That third goal increased the Knights’ prospecting to mine the ultimate gold - the 2008 PDL championship – by sending them into a higher realm, the PLAYOFFS.
“Oh it’s great. It’s fantastic. That was obviously our goal when we started the season,” exclaimed Alvarado, as he and teammates Arthur Kulkov and Tomasz Groch were separately interviewed on Monday night about the team’s push. “It was a relief to see that we regrouped and came out victors in the past two games though we didn’t start too well.”
A third of the way into match-ups with the Ocean City Barons and Westchester, the Knights had to up the ante to overcome deficits, winning 4-1 and 3-2, respectively. The wins took them back to lead the Northeast Division where they will end the regular season with a home game to Fredericksburg Gunners on July 19th.
After getting to the national semi-finals in 2007 as the Eastern Conference champions, this year’s playoff sortie brings excitement to each member of the Brooklyn team, even those whose had reduced playing times in the last two encounters. “Oh yes, actually I am!” exclaimed defender Kulkov who missed the Flames game after suffering an ankle injury in the Barons. “I am expecting to get some W’s (wins). We are here and I don’t want to get out. I want us to do better than last year’s team that went far and that is to get to the final.”
Kulkov’s defense buddy, Groch who has been a stalwart in the back line all season had similar sentiments. “I’m looking forward to that (playoffs) because with these players we have right now I think we are able to take it all and get a first place and I think we are going to make it. It should happen for us to reach the top.”
Groch who is in his second year with the Knights, said that overall the season was “very good for all of us.” “We still didn’t score that much goals compared to other teams, but we’re actually at the top of our game and top of our group,” he said lauding the team which he described as having “good skillful, technical and talented players”.
“That a good combination,” added Alvarado shortly after returning from a MLB All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in New York. “We obviously have a great team with so much individual skills that we were able to get decent results both with the guys that start and those that come off the bench. The guys have really done a great job, and I think it’s important to have this depth going in.”
Kulkov, a week-5 ‘PDL Team of the Week’ selectee, who is in his first year with the Knights, though he practiced with them before, noted that “we have one more game left in the season, and again it doesn’t mean much, but it’s nice to know that you’re ready for the playoffs by putting out a good game, there.”
“Yeah we’re through to the playoffs. We’re super excited, but at the same time I think we need to remain very humble and get ready, even for the game on Saturday”, added Alvarado who carries double duties as a striker and midfielder in the Knights. “It is one game in terms of preparations for the playoffs and we can’t just relax. We still need to get out there and keep a good pace, play hard, fight hard so that we can build towards the playoffs. We can’t take mistakes there ‘cause we only have one shot at it.”
Both Groch and Alvarado want to ensure that the best is yet to come, when they were asked to select the best performance of the season. “Oh wow! I hope I haven’t gone into that game yet,” Alvarado offered with a tingle of laughter. Groch then added “I hope that game will be in the playoffs. Really rather than looking back I think we‘re looking forward and I hope the best performance is yet to come”. Alvarado chimed in with “it doesn’t matter if you scored 10 goals before. That’s history. I want to focus on the ones that’s coming up, you know.”
The players agreed that the excellent amity in the team was another factor accenting their successes, thus far. “The camaraderie in the team has been fantastic. Most of the guys played in other places during the year and we’ve only been together for a short time, but I think there’s been great chemistry for everyone in the team. We come from different places, different backgrounds, different ages and we definitely got things together very well with a lot of excitement.”
“It’s our team dynamic,” Ramsay said putting the team’s achievement into perspective. That perspective also leaned onto their guarded playoffs rapture when he said, “no doubt, we happy to be here, but we’ve greater challenges ahead and we need to stay focused and better our consistency, ‘cause we here to battle for the crown. It’s like a song in our heads.” After all, that’s why one of the Knights battle songs is Matisyahu’s ‘What are we fighting for’.
